G5 won't detect certain SSD internally

[theMarble]

So I'm trying to get a RAID array using two Kingston A400 drives on my G5, however the first SSD (SSD1) is not detected on either of the internal bays, while the second drive (SSD2) is.

Both SSD's are detected and work fine using a USB to SATA adapter, and also two other computers (a 2011 MBP running SL and a 2015 MBP running Monterey). They are both partitioned correctly as HFS+ using Apple Partition Map. Both internal SATA power/data connectors (bay A & B) work as SSD2 and other SATA HDDs are detected by the Leopard install DVD.

TLDR:
SSD1 (Bay A): Not detected
SSD1 (Bay B): Not detected
SSD1 (USB to SATA adapter): Detected
SSD1 (Other Macs): Detected

SSD2 (Bay A): Detected
SSD2 (Bay B): Detected
SSD2 (USB to SATA adapter): Detected
SSD2 (Other Macs): Detected

Any ideas on why? I've done a PRAM reset as well.

 

[AF_APPLETALK]

They might be too new. I have a vague memory that there's a controller mismatch with newer SSDs and the SATA controller in those G5's. OWC's SSDs will generally work though.

 

[theMarble]

They might be too new.

Possibly, but I've had both A400's detected in the past and currently by this G5 (SSD2 that is). Same install disc too.

 

[theMarble]

I've had both A400's detected in the past and currently by this G5 (SSD2 that is).

Just to add on to this, SSD2 was purchased a year or two after SSD1 was.

 

[redheeler]

The G5 was Apple’s first attempt at SATA and it can be buggy with newer SSDs. I’d heard that SATA III drives are especially problematic with G5 (even though they’re supposed to be backward-compatible with earlier versions of SATA). It’s been some years but back when I did my G5 build I remember paying special attention to the SSD I was getting.

 

[NathanJHill]

Yeah, it is such a weird situation with the SATA version on the G5s and SSDs. Very hit and miss. I point out a few on G5Center.net, but it is outdated at this point. I have no means to test a bunch of SSDs and figure out if there is a rhyme or reason. The fact that some SSDs might work in the first slot and others in the second is so bizarre, but I think points to how Apple built-in the SATA spec.

 

[Amethyst1]

Just to add on to this, SSD2 was purchased a year or two after SSD1 was.

These SSDs are said to use a Phison S11 controller. It's possible they're using different revisions or firmware versions across models though. If you have access to Windows, you can use Phison Flash ID to examine and compare these two SSDs.

 

[Certificate of Excellence]

Dejavu 🙂

I ran into a very similar situation attempting to set up a raid0 with two “identically branded” Netac SSDs in my a1047 pmg5.

What wasultimately surmised (@Amethyst1 & @rampancy found the specific info) was that these two drives were using two different revisions of the same memory controller from the maker (Yeestor).

I ended up using those Netac drives in raid0 in my 1,1 cMP - worked like a charm.